IOBCIOBC -- NRSNRS NewsletterNewsletter International Organization for Biological Control SUMMER 2004 Nearctic Regional Section Volume 26 Prospects for Biological Control of Teasel in the Midwest Number 2 Some plants that arrive in the Midwest from exotic as an invasive weed. Exploration of the native homes lack natural factors to keep their popula- range of teasel by USDA scientists has uncovered tions in check, and become invasive. Teasel spe- a few potential arthropod agents from southeast- President cies (Dipsacus fullonum [common teasel] and D. ern Europe, southwestern Asia and France. To date, Dr. Molly Hunter laciniatus [cut-leafed teasel]) are examples of such a flea beetle (Longitarsus strigicollis), a leaf beetle University of Arizona weeds. These Old World plants have been in North (Galeruca sp.), two leafrolling tortricid moths President-Elect America since the 1800s and in the Midwest for (Cochylis roseana and Endothenia Dr. Rob Wiedenmann Illinois Nat. History Survey many years. The first records of D. fullonum (re- gentianaeana), a nymphalid butterfly (Euphydryas ferred to as D. sylvestris) in the Herbarium of the aurenia) and a leafmining fly (Chromatomyia Past President Dr. Dan Mahr Illinois Natural History Survey date to 1934, but ramosa) have University of Wisconsin teasel recently has become more visible along road- been found. Vice President sides, pastures and untilled lands. Further explora- Dr. Nick Mills Teasel species are monocarpic perennials, tion in Turkey, Univ. of Calif. - Berkeley meaning they flower and set seed just once. Unlike Greece, Bulgaria Secretary/Treasurer true biennials, teasel can remain as a rosette for and France is Photo by Rene Sforza, USDA-ARS-EBCL Dr. Stefan Jaronski many years, until it reaches a size at which it bolts, planned for the USDA-ARS, Montana flowers and sets seed. Continual mowing likely had summer of 2004. Corresponding kept teasel plants small enough that they didn’t Teasel of- Secretary bolt. Mowing also is considered to be one of the fers a unique op- Dr. Susan Mahr primary means of spread of the weed; fewer portunity for University of Wisconsin mowings (and occurring later in the season) has biological con- Board Members- at- Large led to explosions of populations of the plant at trol. All species Dr. Jacques Broduer many sites, giving the appearance that it recently in the teasel Université Laval arrived. Fighting teasel has included herbicide ap- family Dr. George Heimpel plications, but costs of labor and chemicals, as well (Dipsacaceae) University of Minnesota as harm to non-target plants from drift and are exotic – there Dr. Sujaya Rao overspray, have resulted in reduced utility of that are no native Oregon State University approach. Biological control is one of the few re- relatives in the Author Brian Rector with a Newsletter Editor maining practical approaches. family and none Dr. Susan Mahr 3.43-m tall specimen of A partnership has been formed between sci- are economi- common teasel in Greece. entists at the USDA-ARS European Biological Con- cally important. trol Laboratory near Montpellier, France, the Illi- Thus, when conducting tests to assure specificity CONTENTS nois Natural History Survey, the USDA-ARS Inva- of arthropod agents, there are no close relatives to 1 .... Teasel BC sive Weeds test, meaning the initial assays will be conducted 2 .... From the Prez Research using relatives of teasel from the Old World. Al- 3 .... IOBC Elections Unit on the though host specificity of agents is still critical, the 7 .... IOBC Business campus of lack of close relatives may make the process of Publications the Univer- finding and evaluating biological control agents Job Pre-Notice sity of Illi- more promising. Newlsetter Info nois, and At the same time the foreign exploration is 8 .... Research Briefs Photo by Brian Rector, USDA-ARS-EBCL Millikin Uni- ongoing, we are studying the ecology of the plant 10 .. Meetings Leaf-feeding damage by the versity to in Illinois habitats. Our studies along Interstate 72 beetle Longitarsus strigicollis. tackle teasel — continued on page 2 FROM the PRESIDENT Greetings, again from Brisbane. I am doing these small things (e.g. dues mem- our Distinguished Scientist and Out- winding down my stay here, and am look- berships, CRIS reports, meeting abstract standing Student awards. ing forward to seeing many of you at the submissions, President’s letters, etc.) There is also a more existential side International Congress of Entomology about a day before something horrible to this request. While we may join be- here in Australia before I head home to is going to happen if they don’t. Our cause we value the interaction with our toasty Tucson. problem is just this: Nothing horrible colleagues in biological control that Recently, Stefan Jaronski, our trea- happens. I’m not actually suggesting it IOBC-NRS enables, and support its func- surer, was lamenting the sorry state of should (although maybe it bears think- tions and its relationship to the interna- our members’ ability to remember to pay ing about) but rather am asking you all tional community in IOBC-global, I won- their dues. As someone that has been in to think about why you belong to IOBC- der if IOBC-NRS could or should be do- arrears before myself, I am sympathetic NRS, and what would make it a more ing more for its members? If you can with both Stefan and all of the absent- compelling task to keep your member- think of something that would be useful minded types out there. So why do we ship paid up. There is, of course, a fi- for the community that we’re not cur- have this problem? At a mere $25/year, I nancial incentive for this request — rently doing, please let me really don’t think it’s about the money. I we’re a shoestring operation and non- ([email protected]), or someone think that part of the modern condition renewals or dues paid only on alternate on the Board, know. of having way too many things to do years detract from our ability to pay for Thanks, and see you soon. and too much information to process is things like the newsletters, the mixers at — Molly Hunter that many people adopt a strategy of our annual meeting and symposium, and Announcing Joint IOBC and BNC Conference in 2005 The IOBC Neartic Regional Section research in biological control. This con- Thank you for making the beautiful and the Biocontrol Network of Canada ference will offer a unique opportunity hills of Magog-Orford your spring con- are pleased to announce a historic first to showcase the latest results and bring ference destination for 2005. meeting of the two organizations for May together biocontrol researchers and 8-11, 2005 in Magog-Orford, Quebec, stakeholders. Yours truly, East of Montreal. The second Summer School of the The Organizing Committee: This conference will cover all as- Biocontrol Network will also be timed to Jacques Brodeur and Guy Boivin, pects of biological control and will in- coincide with this event. Biocontrol Network (committee Co- clude a special symposium on “Trophic Please mark your 2005 calendar and Chairs); and Guild Interactions in Biological Con- be sure not to miss this key event. De- Molly Hunter and Rob Wiedenmann, trol” featuring invited keynote speakers tails of the program, registration proce- President and President-elect IOBC- and a special IOBC Global 50th anniver- dure, transportation arrangements from NRS; sary session. Montreal international airport and hotel Joop van Lenteren, representative of Elucidating the complex interactions reservations will be sent to you at a later IOBC Global; and taking place in biological control and date. Please also forward this announce- Jean-Louis Schwartz, co-leader of the understanding how to manipulate them ment to anyone who may be interested Biocontrol Network. for optimum results is at the forefront of and who may not have received it. Teasel Biocontrol — Continued from page 1 near Decatur and at Clinton Lake State to determine if any native insects or mites of arthropod agents and help us fit bio- Recreation Area have shown mowing may be feeding on the plant, and assess- logical control into the current manage- increases the size of teasel patches, and ing other control methods, such as the ment regimens. that seeds are also dispersed by wind, optimal timing of mowing to minimize — Robert N. Wiedenmann, Center for rather than by vehicular traffic. Although seed spread and whether combinations Ecological Entomology, Illinois Natu- wind may disperse seed a short distance of mowing and herbicide use may make ral History Survey and Brian G. Rector, downwind, mowing may move seed the plant more vulnerable to the multiple USDA-ARS, European Biological Con- heads up to several kilometers to form tactics. We hope that these studies will trol Laboratory new patches. We currently are looking prepare us for the potential introduction 2 IOBC-NRS Vol. 26, No. 2 IOBC-NRS BUSINESS Elections for IOBC-NRS Officers It is time to select new officers of the Nearctic Regional Section Governing Board. Please read the following short biographies to help make your selection for the candidates of your choice on the enclosed ballot. Candidates for each office are listed in alphabetical order, and incumbents are noted. President-elect — understudy to President for 2 years, then assumes office of President. Marshall W. Johnson is an extension specialist and research entomologist in the Department of Entomol- ogy at the University of California, Riverside, located at the UC Kearney Agricultural Center at Parlier, CA. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in entomology (1972 & 1974, respectively) from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of California, Riverside, in 1979. Prior to joining the UC Riverside faculty in 2002, Johnson spent 19 years at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu, HI) where he was a Professor of Entomology and Entomologist focusing on conservation biological control.